Veteran stage and screen actor Tom Ligon, best known for portraying Lucas Lorenzo Prentiss on The Young and the Restless, has died at the age of 85. He passed away on Friday in New York City.
The news of his death was confirmed by his longtime friend, Steve Hayes, in a Facebook post.
Born on September 10, 1940, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Ligon launched his acting career after being discovered by legendary playwright Tennessee Williams during a college theater production. He went on to establish himself as a respected performer on both Broadway and off-Broadway stages.
His Broadway credits included Have I Got a Girl for You (1963), Angela (1969), and Love Is a Time of Day (1969). He also originated the role of Orson in the off-Broadway musical Your Own Thing in 1968.
Ligon later transitioned to film, appearing in notable movies such as Paint Your Wagon (1969), Bang the Drum Slowly (1973), Young Doctors in Love (1982), and Cutting Class (1989), which featured a young Brad Pitt. His 1971 film Jump was also reportedly a favorite of filmmaker Quentin Tarantino.
Television audiences came to know Ligon through his role as Lucas Lorenzo Prentiss on The Young and the Restless, a character he portrayed from 1978 to 1982. His performance earned him a devoted following among the soap opera’s fans.
Beyond acting, Ligon served as a chair within SAG-AFTRA during the 2000s. In 2013, he made national headlines after reportedly defending his home from an intruder at the age of 72 by using a karate chop.
Ligon was preceded in death by his wife of more than 30 years, K.C., who passed away in 2009. He is remembered for a career that spanned decades across theater, television, and film, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and colleagues alike.